Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator), 3.25

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Sur la fin du même hiver, le Lacédémonien Saléthos fut envoyé de Sparte à Mytilène sur une trirème. Il alla aborder à Pyrrha¹, d’où, continuant sa route par terre, il parvint à s’introduire dans Mytilène en franchissant par un ravin la circonvallation. Il apportait aux magistrats la double assurance d’une prochaine invasion en Attique et de renvoi de quarante vaisseaux à leur secours. Il ajoutait qu’il avait pris les devants pour le leur annoncer et pour s’occuper des autres dispositions. Les Mytiléniens reprirent courage et ne songèrent plus à traiter avec les Athéniens. Là-dessus l’hiver se termina, et avec lui la quatrième année de la guerre que Thucydide a racontée.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator). Paris. 1863.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition First1KGreek

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése (French) (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] ἐκ δὲ τῆς Λακεδαίμονος τοῦ αὐτοῦ χειμῶνος τελευτῶντος ἐκπέμπεται Σάλαιθος ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ἐς Μυτιλήνην τριήρει. καὶ πλεύσας ἐς Πύρραν καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς πεζῇ κατὰ χαράδραν τινά, ᾗ ὑπερβατὸν ἦν τὸ περιτείχισμα, διαλαθὼν ἐσέρχεται ἐς τὴν Μυτιλήνην, καὶ ἔλεγε τοῖς προέδροις ὅτι ἐσβολή τε ἅμα ἐς τὴν Ἀττικὴν ἔσται καὶ αἱ τεσσαράκοντα νῆες παρέσονται ἃς ἔδει βοηθῆσαι αὐτοῖς, προαποπεμφθῆναί τε αὐτὸς τούτων ἕνεκα καὶ ἅμα τῶν ἄλλων ἐπιμελησόμενος.

[2] καὶ οἱ μὲν Μυτιληναῖοι ἐθάρσουν τε καὶ πρὸς τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἧσσον εἶχον τὴν γνώμην ὥστε ξυμβαίνειν. ὅ τε χειμὼν ἐτελεύτα οὗτος, καὶ τέταρτον ἔτος τῷ πολέμῳ ἐτελεύτα τῷδε ὃν Θουκυδίδης ξυνέγραψεν.

Translations (10)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] About the end of the same winter Salaethus, a Lacedaemonian, was sent in a galley to Mytilene and, coming first to Pyrrha and thence going to Mytilene by land, entered the city by the dry channel of a certain torrent, which had a passage through the wall of the Athenians, undiscovered. And he told the magistrates that Attica should again be invaded and that the forty galleys which were to aid them were coming, and that himself was sent afore both to let them know it and withal to give order in the rest of their affairs.

[2] Hereupon the Mytilenaeans grew confident and hearkened less to composition with the Athenians. And the winter ended, and the fourth year of this war written by Thucydides.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] Towards the close of the same winter, Salaethus, a Lacedaemonian, was sent out in a trireme from Lacedaemon to Mitylene . Going by sea to Pyrrha , and from thence overland, he passed along the bed of a torrent, where the line of circumvallation was passable, and thus entering unperceived into Mitylene , told the magistrates that Attica would certainly be invaded, and the forty ships destined to relieve them arrive, and that he had been sent on to announce this and to superintend matters generally.

[2] The Mitylenians upon this took courage, and laid aside the idea of treating with the Athenians; and now this winter ended, and with it ended the fourth year of the war of which Thucydides was the historian.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.) — 3.25 focus

Aus Lakedämon aber wurde zu Ende desselben Winters
Saläthos, ein Lakedämonier, mit einem Dreiruderer gen Mitylene
geschickt. Der fuhr denn auch bei Pyrrha an, schlich sich von da zu
Lande weiter und durch das Bett eines Waldstroms über die
Verschanznng (der Athener), die an dieser Stelle zu passiren war, und
gelangte so nach Mytilene und sagte den Häuptern der Stadt, daß
ein Einfall auf das Gebiet von Attika unternommen werde und
zugleich auch die vierzig Schiffe ershceinen sollten, die zu ihrem Entsatz
bestimmt seien. Er selbst aber sei eben dieser Dinge wegen voraus ¹²³
gesandt und zugleich auch um sonst Nöthiges vorzukehren. Da
gewannen nun die Mytilenäer frischen Muth und waren jetzt weniger
bedacht, sich mit den Athenern zu vergleichen. So ging dieser Winter
zu Ende und damit das vierte Jahr dieses Kriegs, den Thukydides
beschrieben hat.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 3.25 focus

Aus Lakedämon schickte man gegen Ende dieses Winters
den Lakedämonier Salaithos auf einer Triere nach Mytilene.
Nachdem sein Schiff bei Pyrrha angelegt, ging er von da zu
Lande weiter und gelangte durch ein Rinnsal an eine Stelle,
wo man über die feindliche Umwallung kommen konnte, un
bemerkt nach Mytilene. Hier teilte er der Regierung mit, daß
wirklich ein Einfall nach Attika gemacht werden solle und die
zu ihrem Entsatz bestimmten Schiffe bereits unterwegs seien.
Er selbst sei deswegen vorausgeschickt und solle sich überhaupt
ihrer annehmen. Nun faßten die Mytilener neuen Mut und
wollten von Verhandlungen mit den Athenern nichts mehr
. wissen. Damit endete dieser Winter und das vierte Jahr des
Krieges, den Thukydides beschrieben hat.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 3.25 focus

XXV. A la fin du même hiver, le Lacédémonien Saléthus fut envoyé de Lacédémone à Mytilène sur une trirème. Il gagna Pyrrha et de là, continuant sa route par terre, il pénétra à Mytilène sans être aperçu, en suivant un ravin par où l’on pouvait franchir la circonvallation. Il annonça aux magistrats qu’une invasion allait avoir lieu dans l’Attique, et qu’en même temps arriveraient les quarante vaisseaux qui devaient les secourir ; qu’il avait été expédié en avant pour les en prévenir, et pour s’occuper des autres dispositions. Les Mytiléniens prirent confiance et furent moins disposés à traiter avec les Athéniens. L’hiver finit, et avec lui la quatrième année de cette guerre, dont Thucydide a écrit l’histoire.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] Toward the close of the same winter, Salae-¹ thus the Lacedaemonian was sent in a trireme from Lacedaemon to Mytilene. Landing at Pyrrha and proceeding thence on foot, he followed the bed of a ravine, where the circuit-wall could be crossed, and came undetected into Mytilene. He told the magistrates that there would be an invasion of Attica and that simultaneously the forty ships² which were to come to their aid would arrive, adding that he himself had been sent ahead to make these announcements and also to take charge of matters

[2] in general. Accordingly the Mytilenaeans were encouraged and were less inclined than ever to make terms with the Athenians. So this winter ended, and with it the fourth year of this war of which Thucydides wrote the history.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] At the close of the same winter, Salaethus the Lacedaemonian was sent out from Lacedaemon in a trireme to Mytilene; and having gone by sea to Pyrrha, and thence by land, he entered Mytilene unobserved, along the bed of a torrent, where the lines round the town were passable, and told the magistrates that there would be an invasion of Attica, and at the same time the ships would come which were to have assisted them before; and that he himself had been despatched in advance on this account, and to attend to all other matters.

[2] The Mytilenaeans therefore took fresh courage, and thought less of coming to terms with the Athenians. And so ended this winter, and the fourth year of the war of which Thucydides wrote the history.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 3.25.1 focus

[1] Lacedaemone autem eadem hieme exeunte mittitur Salaethus Lacedaemonius cum triremi Mytilenen. Hic Pyrrham vectus et illinc itinere pedestri per quemdam torrenlis alveum profectus, qua munitiones transiri poterant, occulte Mytilenen ingreditur, et dicebat Mytilenaeorum magistratibus simul irruptionem in Atticam factum iri, et illas quadraginta naves, quas is subsidio venire oportebat, affuturas, se- que, ut haec significaret et celera coraret, praemissum ene.

[2] Atque ita Mitylenn confirmabantur et animis minus propendebant ad compositionem cum Atheniensibus faciendam. Atque hiems finiebatur haec et quartus annos hujus belli finiebatur, quod Thucydides conscripsit.

Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides First1KGreek (Thucydides. Vier Staatsreden aus Thucydides. Gürsching, Heinrich, translator. Augsburg: Wirth, 1856.) — 2.35.1 focus

[1] Wenn es bisher bei den Rednern an dieser Stätte fast allgemeiner Brauch geworden, den Mann zu rühmen, der mit der Bestattung diese Rede verband, weil an dem Grabe gefallener Krieger ein ehrendes Wort sich zieme, so würde ich es für hinreichend gehalten haben, dass man Helden der That mit einer festlichen Handlung ehre, — wie das denn der Staat durch die Bestattung gethan hat, deren Zeugen ihr so eben gewesen — und würde die Verherrlichung so vieler Männer nicht einem Einzelnen und der zufälligen Wirkung seines Vortrags anheimgegeben haben.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 3.25 focus

Sul cader dello stesso inverno Saleto lacedemone è spedito da Sparta a Mitilene con una trireme. Approdato egli a Pirra , di là a piedi, per un borro che menava dentro alle fortificazioni nemiche, entra inosservato in Mitilene; dichiara ai magistrati si assalterebbe TAttica, ed arriverebbero ad un' ora le quaranta navi destinate a loro soccorso : essere egli spedito innanzi a questo fine, ed insieme per provvedere a tutto il resto. Il perchè inanimiti i Mitilenei meno inchinavano ad accordare con gli Ateniesi, Cosi finiva questo inverno, e il quarto anno della guerra descritta da Tucidide.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

Voyez liv. III, ch. xvm, note 1.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3 (Thucydides, Book III. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

πλεύσας ἐς Πύρραν καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς πεζῇ —two stages in the scheme by which διαλαθὼν ἐσέρχεται: and so πεζῇ ‘by land’ is co-ordinated with πλεύσας, and is equivalent to πεζῇ ἐλθών.

ῃ ὑπερβατὸν ἦν —edd. do not agree whether this means (1) that the ‘torrent-bed’ interrupted the Athenian wall, or (2) that the wall, though unbroken, was lower at this point. ὑπερβατόν hardly admits of (1). A third suggestion (3) is that ὑποβατόν should be read, meaning that Salaethus crawled under the wall through an outlet. As for (2), if we eompare c. 18, 4-6, it seems strange that the A. should have been so simple as to leave the wall low at the χαράδρα: but Thuc. has omitted some detail that would have made things clear—as he is apt to do. See Introd. p. XV.

προέδροις — τοῖς ἄρχουσι schol. For the

νῆες see c. 16.

προαποπεμφθῆναί τε —cf. I. 87 εἶπον ὅτι . . δοκοῖεν . ., βούλεσθαι δὲ . .

τούτων ἕνεκα . . ἐπιμελησόμενος —cf. I. 80 ἐμπειρίᾳ . . νομίσαντα.

πρὸς τοὺς Ἀθηναίους —from passages like V. 44 πρὸς τοὺς Ἀ. μᾶλλον εἶχον τὴν γνώμην it is clear that ὥστε ξυμβαίνειν does not govern these words, but is an epexegesis.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 3.25

Élie-Ami Bétant (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition First1KGreek

Notes on the current edition

Commentary

Stable identifiers